Brush Script MT (aka: I’m Trying To Be Fancy, but I’m Using Another Overused Amateur Typeface)

Well, already this doesn't bode too well.

Brush Script MT, while not quite as reviled as Comic Sans or Papyrus, is still not a font a Graphic Designer should use any time soon (however, there could be exceptions, as shown later on in this post), mostly due to two reasons: the first being that the font is overused by way too many people who simply select the font when they want to be fancy with their invitations or flyers; the second reason being that time has simply not been kind to the font.

Brush Script was created in 1942 by Robert E. Smith for the American Type Founders, who designed the typeface to emulate broad brush strokes (obviously) by creating a casual script-like connection between letters, and slightly slanting the lowercase letters to push the “hand-created” look. As soon as it debuted, advertisers and retailers started using the font for their designs, and it became immensely popular overnight.

Although the font continued to be used in posters throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s, it has since become another font that graphic designers have to strike from the list of fonts to use. As I stated before, time has not been kind to Brush Script; it has long lost the luster it had before, and expert typographers and designers are quick to point out that the shape and design of the font looks too fat and lazy compared to other fonts that are script fonts or have script-like elements in their design. The fact that nearly every casual computer user or amateur designer has the urge to apply this font to their flyers, invitations, or even business cards and menus in an attempt to be fancy doesn’t help Brush Script’s case at all, either.

Personally... this doesn't look too bad.

Unlike Papyrus or Comic Sans though, there could be some hope for Brush Script; according to one designer that listed the font as #3 on their Top 5 Worst Fonts, Brush Script MT is still remembered and associated with poster designs from the post-World War II era. Hypothetically, if one were to design a poster/ flyer/ what-have-you in the style of how posters were designed in the style of post-WWII, utilizing Brush Script could actually give the design some retro charm. However, this could be considered risky, since it has to be done right.

...However, many graphic designers would say that this would be an improvement.

This was written by Carucaru. Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2011, at 7:59 pm. Filed under Design Education, Design Ethics. Bookmark the permalink. Follow comments here with the RSS feed. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.